High-level Canadian official damaged probe in Nijjar killing, says India's envoy to Canada

"...Where is the evidence? Where is the conclusion of the investigation....?," 

India's High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Verma, said that a high-level Canadian official damaged probe in June murder of Sikh separatist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in British Columbia.

Verma made the observation in an interview to 'The Globe and Mail'. Canada has alleged Indian involvement in the murder in a Vancouver suburb of Canadian citizen and Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, whom India called a "terrorist." 

Of course, India denies the allegation.

"I would go a step further and say now the investigation has already been tainted," Verma told the newspaper. "A direction has come from someone at a high level to say India or Indian agents are behind it."

Verma did not name the high-level official. On September 18, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said: "Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the government of India" and Nijjar's death.

Verma also urged Ottawa to release evidence backing up its accusation that agents of Indian government were behind the killing of separatist Hardeep Nijjar, according to the report in 'The Globe and Mail'. 

“There is no specific information provided in this case for us to assist them in the investigation," he said. 

The case has sparked a diplomatic row between the two countries. Canada withdrew 41 diplomats from India after New Delhi in September asked Ottawa to reduce its diplomatic presence following Canada's allegations over Nijjar's killing.

Verma said that India has not been shown concrete evidence by Canada or Canada's allies that Indian agents were involved in Nijjar's killing. He said that despite the strained relations between the two countries, India would like to expand business ties and return to the negotiating table on a trade deal.

In September, Canada paused talks on a proposed trade treaty with India, just three months after the two nations said they aimed to seal an initial agreement this year.

A dossier put together by Indian intelligence agencies claims that Nijjar  became the head of the Sikh temple by threatening his own cousin Raghbir Singh Nijjar.  He was an old associate of Khalistan Commando Force (KCF) terrorist Gurdeep Singh aka Deepa Heranwala, who was involved in over 200 killings in Punjab in late 1980s and early 1990s. 

He was initiated into crime by another gang lord, Gurnek Singh aka Neka.